Victim’s mother seeks help to finance surgeries

Patentia accident

The mother of the motorcyclist who was seriously injured in an accident on Tuesday last on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD), is contemplating on seeking help for her son’s surgeries.
The victim, 18-year old John Walcott of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, reportedly collided with a car, HC 7212, driven by 59-year-old Cyril Joseph at about 10:00h at Patentia, West Coast Demerara, while he was on his way to visit a friend.

Giving his side of the story from his hospital bed, Walcott said, “It happened really fast. I can’t remember much. All I remember is lying in the bush corner with blood everywhere. People was saying things like he already dead and suh”.
The teen was eventually picked up and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital but was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as a result of the extent of his injuries.
Walcott, a part-time contractor, said he was unable to open his eyes for two days. He was also unable to give Police his statement when they visited the hospital because of the severity of his condition.
The teen’s mother, Desiree Wade, said it was only on Friday that her son came out of the ICU after much prayer. With tears in her eyes, she noted that the doctors told her that her son’s condition is still serious.
The motorcyclist is being treated at the healthcare institution for a fractured right leg, damaged scrotum and a broken wrist. He also lost 10 teeth as a result of the accident and is expected to have facial surgery, according to his mother.
She said she is a single parent who works at a Government Ministry. She told Guyana Times that she paid over $60,000 already to facilitate a brain scan for her son.
“My son’s life was saved only by the grace of God,” the emotional mother said.
Conflicting stories about what resulted in the accident has led to the taxi driver, who was involved in the accident, being released from Police custody.
This was disclosed by acting Guyana Police Force (GPF) Public Relations Officer, Shivpersaud Bacchus, who noted that based on statements provided and the report of investigators on site, the motorcyclist was at fault.
Multiple eyewitnesses said the teenager was speeding at the time and persons familiar with the young man claimed he was in the habit of speeding and not wearing his helmet.
According to information received, the teenager was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
Despite the claims of Walcott speeding, the decision to not pursue charges against Joseph follows the revelation that the motorcar was moved by several men on the scene without Police markings. Moments after the accident, the car was initially seen on the eastern side of the public road some feet away from solid double yellow lines. However, the civilian team of men repositioned the car to the road corner less than one hour after the accident occurred. The second position was consistent with the Police’s account of the driver swerving into that area to avoid the collision.
The Police said Joseph was proceeding North along the western side of the road while the teenager, proceeding in the opposition direction, on the eastern side, “swerved” in a zigzag manner into the car’s path. Police further noted that the car driver then swerved to the eastern side of the road in a desperate attempt to avoid the motorcycle, after which the cyclist supposedly swerved back to the eastern side and collided with the left side of the car.
Information from eyewitnesses stated that the teen attempted to overtake when his CJ 668 motorcycle slammed head on into Joseph’s Toyota car. Walcott was thrown into the air and landed some 30 feet away where blood was seen on the roadway. The teen was bleeding profusely and was picked up by the driver of a Toyota Tundra, who assisted in transporting him to hospital.